Florida Panthers to host NHL’s first ice hockey clinic in the Caribbean

by Bajan Reporter / August 22nd, 2017

The Florida Panthers ice hockey team are coming to Barbados, to host the National Hockey League’s first ice hockey clinic in the Caribbean, as part of the Panthers youth hockey and community outreach initiatives.

International players Alex Petrovic and Ian McCoshen will be hosting an ice skating workshop at Icetopia Skating Rink, located in Wildey, on August 22nd from 6pm onwards.

“Our outreach in the Caribbean over the last five years have been invaluable experiences for our players, staff and the youth learning the game of hockey for the first time,” said Panthers President & CEO Matthew Caldwell. “After introducing the sport through ball hockey clinics for the past trips we are proud to be the first NHL team to have an ice hockey clinic in the Caribbean and work alongside a great partner like Barbados.”

The first skating rink of its kind in the Caribbean, Icetopia Skating Rink uses a synthetic ice surface requiring all participants to wear ice skates. Participants in the clinic will range from ages 5-14. All equipment used in the clinic will be donated to Icetopia.

“We are happy to be hosting the Panthers for their second year in Barbados and share this experience with them,” said Owner of Icetopia Paolo Carraro. “Skating is of course a very new concept to Barbados. So to have the novelty of being able to skate with a professional hockey player is pretty amazing for a Bajan child.”

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“It is an honor to host the Florida Panthers on-island and provide the youth of our community with the opportunity to learn ice hockey from some of the sports’ best players in the world,” said Petra Roach, US Director, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.